Pressing machine



Dec. 11, 1934. s. w. FORD PRESSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 17, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l AY/YeZZe W 16ml (5" 6 TM; 7% f3 (Ittorneg Dec. 11, 1934. 5 w FORD 1,983,974

PRESS ING MACHINE Filed Jan. 17. 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 (I ttorneg Patented Dec; 11, 1934 PATENT OFFICE PRESSING MACHINE Shelley W. Ford, Application January 17,

'1 Claims.

This invention relates to pressing machines of that type having a fixed platen and a heated swinging presser element.

Devices of this type are commonly provided with a foot actuated lever or treadle for closing the presser element on the platen. This requires the use of a base resting on the floor to permit proper attachment of the treadle and such bases are objectionable in devices intended for household use, since they are wasteful of floor space. It is desirable for many uses to provide a portable pressing machine which can be removably attached to anordinary table.

Upwardly projecting hand levers for operating such machines are also objectionable because of constructional difficulties in connecting such levers to the swinging presser in ,a manner to give efiective pressures, and the necessity for using both hands at times to hold the cloth tobe pressed smoothly on the platen.

It is common in such machines to cover the proximal surfaces of the platen and presser with a cloth cover so as to present clean surfaces between which the article of clothing may be pressed, thecovering cloths being renewed from time to time as they become soiled. Moreover the cloth covering .the presser element is apt to scorch or burn and, because of its constant contact with the hot element, has but a short life.

For the purpose of overcoming the objections mentioned, it is among the objects of the present invention to provide an improved pressing machine adapted to be detachably secured to an ordinary table; to provide an operating lever for such a table-supported machine which may be conveniently pressed by the operator but which will be out of the way of the articles being pressed; to provide a novel form of linkage for connecting the operating lever and the swinging presser element; to so support the presser element on its pivot that ample space will be provided behind and below the level of the pivot to receive loose unpressed' parts of the wide strips of cloth being pressed; to provide improved electrical connections for a heating element; and to provide improved means for holding the cloth covering the presser element out of contact with the hot element except when the presser is-closed on the platen.

One embodiment of my invention is illustratedvin the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Fig. l is a perspective view of the invention showing it secured on a table.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation, partly Cincinnati, Ohio 1934, Serial No. 707,013

in section, of the pressing machine, the cover cloths being omitted.

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 with the connecting plug removed.

Fig. 4 is a schematic end view of the platen 5 and presser, showing the relation of the covers of these elements to the elements when the presser is in raised position.

' Fig. 1 illustrates my pressing machine clamped to the top 10 of an ordinary table, the 10 heating element of the upper ioressingmember being connected by means of the plug 14, cable 13 and plug 12 with a wall socket 11.

The pressing machine has a fiat rectangular table forming the lower presser member, 15, 15 which is supported on legs 16 located at the corners. Clamps 17 having clamping screws 18 are formed integral with the lower ends of three of the legs so that they may engage the edges of the table and be firmly secured thereto. -A bracket 19 extends rearwardly and inwardly from the rear leg 16 of the machine and carries a socket 20 for the journal pin 21. The upper pressing member consists of a rectangular plate 22, provided with a shallow recess 23 in its under surface, to receive the electric heating element 25, which is supported by the bottom plate 24 which in turn is bolted to the plate 22. The terminals of the heating element lead intoa suitable junction box 26 screwed to the rear end of the plate 22. A pair of spaced ears 27 extend upwardly from the plate 22, symmetrically of its center and carry a pivot pin 28.

The supporting arm for the upper pressing member has a pivot portion 29 mounted on the pin 21, the arm extending downwardly and rearwardly from the pivot portion to provide a recess 30 to receive and support loose unpressed cloth therein while the opposite side of a wide strip of cloth is being pressed. The arm 40 curves upwardly and forwardly from the recess as at 31, to an integral socket casing 32, and then curves downwardly at 33 and terminates in a straight portion 34 extending substantially parallel to the presser element and is journalled at its forward end on the pivot bolt 28; The upper presser member is free to tilt to a slight extent on the bolt 28, said tilting being limited by the engagement of the laterally projecting shoulders 36 on the arm with the inclined edges 35 of the cars 27. 4

Fixed in the casing 32 is a block 3'? 0i insulating material carrying the usual contact pins 38 which are connected to the heating element terminals in the junction box 26 by conductors 39.

A short .arm or lug 40 depends from the journal portion 29 of the arm and carries a pivot pin 41 whereon is pivoted the rear end of a link 42. A sleeve 43 extends inwardly from one of the front legs and carries a journal pin 44. A

' ber is pressed firmly on top of the cover.

triangular head 45 is pivoted at one of its corners on the pin 44 and is provided with openings 46 in its remaining corners. A pivot pin 47 is positioned in one or the other opening 46, as desired and has the forward end of the link 42 pivoted thereon. If the pivot pin 47 is inserted in the upper opening 46, a shorter leverage will be obtained. An operating lever 48 extends forwardly and downwardly from the front of the head 45 and is provided on its lower end with a presser head 49 located so as to be readily engaged and pressed rearward by the thigh or knee of the operators leg. This lever is thus entirely below the pressing table and out of the way of articles being pressed, while at the same time, it is very convenient for the operator. It will be noted that this leaves both of the operators hands free to manipulate the garment to be pressed. Furthermore, the operative connection between the lever and swinging arm of the pressing member, is of very simple character. A coiled spring 50 secured at oppositeends to studs 51 raises the presser arm when released.

For the purpose of removably holding a cover cloth upon the lower pressing member, spring arms 53 are secured at one end in lugs 52, depending from the rear corners of the pressing member. The cover cloth 54 is provided with pockets 55 extending along its side edges for the reception of the spring arms 53. By this means the cover may be readily removed or replaced and the spring action of the arms holds it closely stretched over the pressing table. In theoperative position with the cover thereon, the arms 53 are substantially parallel. 7

Lugs 56 are carried at the rear of the upper pressing member on the side edges thereof and spring arms 57 are fixed in said lugs to lie in laterally spaced relation to the side edges of the pressing member and normally below the plane of the bottom face. A cover 58 is provided with pockets 59 along its side edges to receive the arms 57 and, by the resilience of these arms, the cover is held tightly stretched beneath the upper pressing member and, when the said member is lifted from the lower member, the cloth is spaced from the hot surface of the member.

In operation the normal position of the upper member is raised as shown in Fig. 1. In this open position the operating lever has its lower end swung forwardly under the tension of the coiled spring 50. The cloth or garment to be pressed is now slipped over the lower member and, if longer than the plate, its rear end is gathered in the recess or saddle 30 where, due to the shape of this part of the arm, it rests securely without danger of folding up on the rear of the pressing member. The operating lever 48 is now pressed forward at its lower end, thereby causing the link 42 to rotate the arm about its pivot 21 until the hot upper presser element or member bears upon the cloth or garment. As the upper member moves downwardly, the stretched cover 58 first engages the garment on the lower member and holds it on the lower member until the heated upper mem- When journaled at the rear of saidmember and extending forwardly thereover, a movable upper member secured to the free end of said arm, an operating lever pivoted below the forward end of the stationary member and extending forwardly and downwardly from its pivot, and a link connected to said lever and to said arm below its rear bearing to thereby rock said arm and lower said upper member upon rearward movement of said operating lever.

2. A garment pressing machine, comprising a stationary lower pressing member, short legs attached to said member and provided with means adapted to be secured to a table top or other support, a rocking arm pivoted rearwardly of said member and extending forwardly thereover, an upper pressing member mounted on the free end of said arm, an operating lever pivoted below the forward end of the stationary member and extending forwardly and downwardly from its pivot, and a link connected to said lever and to said arm below its pivot to thereby rock said arm and lower said upper member upon rearward movement of said operating lever, said link being positioned close to the lower pressing member and substantially parallel to it, thereby permitting the use of said short legs.

3. A pressing machine, comprising a stationary lower pressing member, short legs depending from said member and having means adapted for attachment to a table top, a pivot pin sup ported from one of said legs adjacent the rear of said member, an arm pivoted on said pin and extending forwardly over'said member, a presser member carried by the free end of said arm to move toward and from the stationary member as said arm is rocked on its pivot, a second pivot pin supported from another leg to extend beneath the forward part of said stationary member, a head journaled on said second pin, a lug depending from said arm below the first mentioned pin, a link having one end pivoted to said lug and its opposite end pivoted to said head, and an operating arm carried by said head and extending forwardly and downwardly therefrom.

4. In a pressing machine as set forth in claim 3, said arm extending rearwardly and downwardly from the pivot to form a recess or saddle for supporting folds of fabric.

5. In a pressing machine having lower stationary and upper movable pressing members, mechanism for moving said upper member toward and from said stationary member, a cover cloth extending beneath the lower face of said upper member and spring arms attached to the upper member to hold the cover cloth in normal spaced relation to said lower face.

6. In a pressing machine having lower stationary and upper movable pressing members, mechanism for moving said upper member toward and from said stationary member, a

cover cloth extending beneath the lower face ward and from said stationary member, a cover of said upper member and spring arms attached at their rear ends to said upper member and spaced laterally and normally below the lower face of said member, and means securing the lateral edges of said cover to said spring arms.

7. In a pressing machine having lower stationary and upper movable pressing members,

mechanism for moving said upper member tocloth extending across the upper face of said stationary member, and spring arms attachedat their rear ends to said stationary member and projecting forwardly below and substantially parallel to the lateral edges thereof and means securing the lateral edges of said cover cloth to said spring arms.

SHELLEY W. FORD. 

